Schools feeding programme encourages attendance

THE school feeding programme has become a vital asset to pupils in Binga, Matabeleland North, as it encourages attendance and retention of the pupils.

The Government has prioritised the most food insecure districts such as Binga and has partnered with Unicef and World Vision to execute this programme.

As a result of this initiative, the district has noticed an increase in student enrolment and attendance, leading to the possibility of expanding the programme to include secondary schools.

Binga District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Land Kabome Siansole, said they have observed that due to the school feeding popularity, some learners were transferring to schools with the feeding programme.

“There are some schools that are being fed by Unicef through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” said Mr Siansole.

“Other schools are being sponsored by World Vision. As a result of drought, schools that are not receiving the ration are losing pupils and children are transferring from the schools that are not providing the food ration to those providing the food despite the distances.”

He said there is a need for more schools to be supported with the school feeding programme to retain learners.

“As a former school head, I know the challenges that even secondary schools face. There is a need to extend the school feeding programme to secondary schools. But to cushion families against drought, as the Government, we are giving food to households,” he said.

“We are giving three months’ allocations and some are still lacking so there is a need for the school feeding programme to be strengthened,” said Mr Siansole.

Unicef social protection specialist, Ms Ruth Utete, has noted that the United Nations agency is financing the school feeding programme in 123 schools throughout the country, with a majority of them being in Binga.

The programme has helped to decrease the number of pupils dropping out during periods of drought, by increasing the number of students attending schools that offer food.

“In Binga, we are supporting 79 schools under the school feeding programme, and throughout the country, we are supporting 123 schools. We have provided funds for the first term and we are now giving funds for the second term,” said Ms Utete.

She concurred with Mr Siansole that the school feeding programme has been effective in keeping pupils in class.

“From our monitoring, we are observing that the enrolment is increasing in schools that have the feeding programme,” she said. — @nqotshili